Patient ownership for durable Texas businesses.
Castle Key Holdings is a privately held holding company based in North Texas. We own and operate a growing portfolio of businesses and digital assets, and we acquire established, owner-built service companies to hold for the long term.
One home for every venture we build or buy.
Castle Key is the parent company behind our operating businesses, online properties and investments. It gives each one shared capital, systems and accountability, and gives the people we work with a single, stable counterparty.
Own and operate
We run our portfolio companies and digital assets directly, with hands-on leadership and simple, measurable operating rhythms.
Acquire
We buy profitable, mission-critical Texas service businesses from owners who want their company, customers and team in good hands.
Partner
We work with business brokers, owners, lenders and capital partners who value straight answers, clean diligence and follow-through.
Built to hold, not to flip.
We borrow our discipline from the best long-term operators: buy well, run lean, reinvest, and let time do the compounding.
Indefinite hold period
No fund clock and no exit timeline. We buy businesses to keep them, which changes every decision we make after closing.
Operator-led
An owner-operator is in the business from day one. Sellers know exactly who is taking the keys and who their customers will be calling.
Disciplined capital
Conservative structures, real debt-service coverage, and no bet-the-company leverage. Cash flow is reinvested into the businesses and the next acquisition.
Culture first
We keep what already works: the team, the name in the community, and the standards that earned the customer base. Then we add systems and capital.
Acquisition criteria
If a business fits most of these, we would like to hear about it. We respond to every broker submission, including the ones we pass on.
- Geography
- Texas, with priority on the Dallas–Fort Worth and North Texas region.
- Size
- Enterprise value up to $25 million.
- Revenue
- Recurring or contracted revenue from essential, non-discretionary services.
- Industries
- Fire and life safety (inspection, alarm, sprinkler, extinguisher, monitoring), commercial water treatment, and other route-based B2B services.
- Customers
- A diversified base, with no single customer above roughly 15–20% of revenue.
- Transition
- Owners seeking a legacy-minded buyer and a smooth handoff. Real estate included in the sale is a plus.
A sales leader who builds and runs businesses.
Josh Key founded Castle Key Holdings to put a career of building teams and growing territories to work in companies he owns. He has spent more than 15 years in medical device and healthcare sales, starting at Stryker and advancing through LivaNova, NICO and Bioventus in roles up to Regional Manager and National Sales Director, with deep expertise in neuromodulation and capital equipment.
Alongside that career he has bought and operated a small service business, and he leads Castle Key's operating companies, digital properties and acquisition search today. A Flint, Michigan native who played Division II basketball on scholarship at Northwood University, Josh has called Texas home for more than two decades.
He leads with what he calls the Four A's: Alignment, Accountability, Agility and Autonomy, all resting on a fifth, Attitude, with humility at its core.
Experienced counsel.
Our advisors bring decades of leadership across operating companies, technology and public service.
Patrick Stokes
A senior executive with a record of setting strategic direction and growing revenue, market share and profitability across startup, mid-cap and Fortune 100 companies, with deep experience in global alliances, international business development and sales management.
LinkedInCarl Will
More than 25 years building and leading businesses. As CEO of Allen Engineering Corporation he oversees operations, growth strategy and leadership development, with a track record of scaling companies profitably.
LinkedInDarlynda Bogle
A retired public service leader who served as Executive Director to the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, bringing deep experience in strategic planning, program management and organizational leadership.
LinkedInBusiness success and community go together.
A share of what we build goes to organizations that protect the vulnerable and open doors for the next generation.
Big Thought
A Dallas nonprofit unlocking creativity and potential in young people from underserved communities, from after-school programs to college preparation.
bigthought.orgPregnancy Resource Center of Rockwall
A Rockwall nonprofit providing care, practical help and support to women and families facing an unexpected pregnancy.
yourprc.orgTreasured Vessels Foundation
Working to rescue and restore survivors of human trafficking and to prevent exploitation through education and advocacy.
treasuredvessels.orgLet's talk.
Brokers, business owners, lenders and partners: reach out directly. Every conversation is kept confidential.
- Emailjosh@castlekeyholdings.com
- Phone(214) 802-3853
- Based inNorth Texas